Empowered by Home: Karen and Ngoc’s Story

May 7, 2020

After emigrating from Vietnam, Karen and her husband Ngoc worked in the Bay Area for 14 years – she in banking and him as a technician – and were renting incrementally smaller living spaces even as their family grew to include two small children. When they found Empower Homebuyers SCC in 2019, they were on their fifth year living in a rented mobile home. Thanks to Housing Trust’s homeownership team, they bought a home close to their own jobs and both of their parents – who also call San Jose home. At the time, they told us the best part is their children, both under the age of 8, had a lot more room to run around and play hide-and-seek – which was hard to do in a small mobile home.

“This is my house – I can decorate it however I want and it is more comfortable,” Karen told us right when they were moving in.

We talked with Karen during the COVID-19 Shelter in Place order, and she told us how happy they still were with their decision to buy a home. “Our family feels safe and comfortable to live in this house,” she said. “My kids are happy because they have a big backyard for them to play and learn. Even though this is difficult we are enjoying this time to stay and play together.”